According to Hebrew-language media reports citing medical officials, the number of fatalities from the multi-front attack by the Hamas terror group on Israel has surpassed 300, according to The Times of Israel. The death toll is anticipated to increase further. Up to 1,590 people have been hurt, many of them critical. According to The Times of Israel, Hamas has boasted that there are more hostages than Israel is aware of, including a number of civilians and soldiers from the (Israel Defense Forces) IDF.
At about 6:30 am (local time) on Saturday, a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera and Ashkelon.
This was followed by several Hamas terrorists entering Israel from the Gaza Strip and taking over Israeli towns.
Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif called the operation “Al-Aqsa Storm” and said that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza, CNN reported.
Following the attack by Palestinian militants, bodies were seen lying around in the streets of the southern city of Sderot in some graphic videos. According to The Washington Post, cars were shot at and set on fire. The IDF has reported that it has killed seven terrorists who were trying to enter Israel through the Zikim Beach, which is located just north of Gaza. According to the IDF, it stopped the terrorists from slipping into Israeli communities. The Times of Israel reports that the military also claims to have recently attacked three Hamas operational sites in Gaza.
The Israeli security forces have also rescued an unspecified number of people who were taken hostage in a home in the southern town of Ofakim.
The terrorists were killed, according to reports.